Jubilee party eclipsed as duke goes to hospital

LONDON – Robbie Williams kicked off a concert outside Queen Elizabeth’s sumptuous London residence yesterday before huge crowds gathered to celebrate the monarch’s 60 years on the throne, but the event was overshadowed by news her husband had been hospitalised.

Prince Philip, who turns 91 next weekend, was taken to hospital with a bladder infection in what Buckingham Palace said was a “precautionary” move. He will remain under observation for a few days, meaning he will miss the latter stages of the queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations, but the monarch was expected to attend last night’s gig featuring pop royalty such as Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder.

Today the queen will be without her husband of 64 years when she attends a thanksgiving service at St Paul’s Cathedral, leads a carriage procession through London and waves to supporters from the balcony of the palace. – (Reuters)